Unlike the House of Representatives, which has processes allowing members to release formerly classified material without FBI approval, the Senate requires the FBI’s permission.

That’s why the documents released today still contain significant blacked out or redacted portions. The FBI’s explanation for that is also partly redacted. FBI Assistant Director for Congressional Affairs Gregory Bower stated “the FBI cannot and will not weaken its commitment to protecting [redacted]. Public reporting about [redacted] does not affect the FBI’s policy with respect to classification [redacted] nor does it diminish our obligations [redacted].”

There is an old Arab proverb, “If the camel gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow.” A metaphor for a small, insignificant action opening the door to something much larger and more nefarious.

House intelligence committee chairman Devin Nunes achieved something unprecedented: Because the memo he wrote, summing up the results of his congressional investigation, pretty well pries the lid off Big Government